Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 6 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Pei Xijun awoke in her mansion, calling out for her "Xiao." Her servants confirmed her awakening, and her father, Pei Jian, reassured her. Recalling being saved, Pei Xijun excitedly declared that her "Xiao" was alive and had rescued her. Pei Jian affirmed that the person she referred to was indeed alive but clarified that it was not Xiao Bozhao, Minister Xiao's son, who had tragically perished in battle in the Western Region.
Instead, the man she held dear was Lu Lingfeng, the General of the Imperial Guards. Surprised, Pei Xijun repeated Lu Lingfeng's name and demanded to see him to understand the truth of the matter. Pei Jian regretfully explained that seeing him would be difficult, as Lu Lingfeng was currently imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. In the Imperial Prison, two envoys arrived simultaneously to summon the detainees.
Bai Shan, the Royal Steward of the Eastern Palace, came for Su Wuming, while Wei Fenghua, the Regimental Commander in the Princess' Palace, came for Lu Lingfeng. A brief dispute arose over who had priority, with Wei Fenghua emphasizing the Princess's demand for an immediate audience. Despite Bai Shan's initial thought that the Princess would want to see Su Wuming, Wei Fenghua insisted that the Princess's verbal instruction was explicitly for Lu Lingfeng.
Lu Lingfeng, observing the commotion, asked if the Crown Prince had inquired about him, but Bai Shan remained silent. Ultimately, Su Wuming was escorted by Bai Shan to see the Crown Prince, while Lu Lingfeng, after being instructed to bathe and change out of his bloodied clothes, which he initially resisted, was taken by Wei Fenghua to the Princess's Palace. At the Eastern Palace, Su Wuming greeted the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, acknowledging Su Wuming as Detective Di's disciple, praised him for swiftly solving the black tea case that had troubled Chang'an for a year and affected many officials, promising to recommend him to His Majesty for commendation. However, when Su Wuming attempted to credit Lu Lingfeng as having the primary role, the Crown Prince grew stern.
He argued that Lu Lingfeng's reckless act of killing Yuan Lai, the culprit, just as the truth was about to be fully uncovered, likely made the case impossible to thoroughly investigate, thus stripping him of any claim to merit. The Crown Prince then summarily dismissed Su Wuming, cutting short his attempt to explain the circumstances of Yuan Lai's death. Meanwhile, at the Princess's Palace, Lu Lingfeng, now in fresh attire, paid his respects to the Princess.
She studied his features, noting a striking resemblance to someone she knew, but Lu Lingfeng confirmed he had never met her before, and their ages did not align. The Princess lauded Lu Lingfeng for his remarkable feat of killing the Youli Four Monsters, acknowledging that even a large army had struggled against them, though Lu Lingfeng humbly admitted to having many helpers. She then offered him a cup of "Chang'an black tea."
Though hesitant, fearing it was the poisonous "demon tea," Lu Lingfeng was compelled to drink under the Princess's unwavering gaze, who pointedly asked if he believed she was addicted. After he drank and noted the absence of any bloody taste, the Princess revealed that this was the genuine Chang'an black tea, a gift from His Majesty. She explained that Yuan Lai's concoction, made with bride's blood and Hades Grass, was a fraudulent imitation, a deception perpetrated in her name.
She expressed her sadness that Lu Lingfeng had believed the rumors and sympathized with his imprisonment despite his contributions, dismissing his self-blame. The Princess then declared her intention to generously reward General Lu. Back in the Imperial Prison, Lu Lingfeng reflected on his misjudgment of the Princess. Su Wuming, having returned from his audience, jokingly complained of being hungry, contrasting his treatment with the drinks offered to Lu Lingfeng.
Lu Lingfeng inquired if the Crown Prince had mentioned him, but Su Wuming stated that despite a lengthy conversation, Lu Lingfeng's name was never brought up, a revelation that deeply disappointed Lu Lingfeng. Soon after, Wei Fenghua returned with the Princess's instruction written by herself, ordering Lu Lingfeng's immediate release and commendation for his bravery, asserting he had committed no crime.
Lu Lingfeng, however, challenged Wei Fenghua's authority, pointing out that the Imperial Prison fell under the Imperial Guards' jurisdiction and adhered to its own rules. Wei Fenghua, labeling him arrogant, warned that he would report Lu Lingfeng's words to the Princess. Simultaneously, at the Pei mansion, Pei Jian, concerned for his daughter, inquired about her whereabouts.
His servant reported that Pei Xijun had escaped through her window, aided by the household servant Xue Huan, who had prepared a carriage for her. Upon his release from prison, Lu Lingfeng encountered Xue Huan waiting for him. Xue Huan politely invited Lu Lingfeng to join his lady for a reunion. Lu Lingfeng initially feigned unfamiliarity, claiming not to know Xue Huan's lady.
Pei Xijun then emerged, reminding him that she was the one he had saved the previous night and expressing her gratitude. Stating he had important matters, Lu Lingfeng attempted to depart, but Xue Huan tried to block him, arguing that Pei Xijun had waited for two hours. Lu Lingfeng, with a sarcastic remark about Xue Huan's bravery, bypassed him.
Pei Xijun, however, gracefully allowed him to leave, but reaffirmed her invitation, stating she had prepared a banquet at their first meeting place merely to toast him as a hero and express her profound gratitude, regardless of the hour. Lu Lingfeng then sought an audience with the Crown Prince to report the specifics of the Chang'an black tea case, emphasizing his original commission from the Crown Prince.
However, Bai Shan informed him that the Crown Prince was occupied with state affairs and had retired, refusing to see him. Feeling shunned and perplexed, Lu Lingfeng attempted to purchase wine to assuage his melancholy but was refused by a seller due to the impending curfew. With no other recourse, he accepted Pei Xijun's earlier invitation and went to her banquet. There, Pei Xijun offered no further questions, simply playing the zither while he drank.
Meanwhile, Su Wuming was once again summoned from the Imperial Prison by Wei Fenghua, who reminded him of a previous encounter when he conveyed the Princess's request for Su Wuming to investigate a lost item. At the Princess's Palace, the Princess sternly criticized Su Wuming for allowing widespread rumors targeting her to circulate concerning the black tea case.
She informed him that His Majesty had assigned the Dali Temple (Supreme Court) to take over the investigation, with the explicit instruction that the case details were not to be disclosed to avoid public panic. Furthermore, she revealed that Wen Chao, a Sihucanjun (Registrar/Accountant) implicated in the case, had been found dead at home, an incident His Majesty had ordered not to be further investigated.
The Princess then offered Su Wuming the vacant position of Chang'an County Magistrate, implying a desire for him to serve her. Su Wuming, however, gave a non-committal reply, stating that serving the Princess was akin to serving the court, and that he would dedicate himself to the court until his death. Angered by his evasiveness, the Princess ordered Su Wuming to be sent back to the Imperial Prison to reflect on his words.
Later that night, Lu Lingfeng, heavily intoxicated, was ambushed by Lady Shiyi on his return journey. As he pursued her, he was intercepted by Imperial Guards led by Great General Lu Tong, who accused him of violating the curfew. Lu Lingfeng indignantly asserted his rank and that he was pursuing an assassin, but Lu Tong dismissed his claims, stating he had only seen Lu Lingfeng running with a sword and ignoring warnings.
Lu Tong ordered Lu Lingfeng's arrest and re-imprisonment in the Imperial Prison, to await punishment for violating curfew. In the prison, Lu Lingfeng's return surprised Su Wuming, who jokingly accused him of returning to keep him company. Lu Lingfeng retorted by asking if Su Wuming had also been drinking, to which Su Wuming cheerfully confirmed he had enjoyed "divine nectar" at the Princess's Palace.
Later that same night, Assistant Minister Pei Jian arrived at the Imperial Prison, where he was greeted by Great General Lu Tong, who was also there on official orders. Pei Jian delivered an imperial edict to Su Wuming, appointing him as the Military Commander of Nanzhou, and instructing him to depart south immediately on foot, without the use of a horse or carriage.
This journey, Pei Jian explained, was at the Princess's behest, intended to provide Su Wuming with experience and time for reflection. Su Wuming expressed his gratitude and accepted the new assignment. Concurrently, Lu Tong delivered the Crown Prince's decree regarding Lu Lingfeng: for knowingly violating curfew, his crime was aggravated, warranting thirty strokes of the cane, confiscation of all his property, and expulsion from Chang'an.
An Imperial Guardsman attempted to object on Lu Lingfeng's behalf, but Lu Tong reiterated that the Crown Prince's personal order made the decision final and commanded the flogging to commence. After enduring his severe flogging, Lu Lingfeng was carried out of Chang'an by his loyal subordinate, Guo Zhuang. Lu Lingfeng, in a daze, instructed Guo Zhuang to return and report as Lu Tong had ordered, fearing punishment for him.
However, Guo Zhuang defiantly refused, expressing his profound disgust with Great General Lu Tong's jealousy and unfair treatment of Lu Lingfeng. He declared his unwavering loyalty, stating he would follow Lu Lingfeng wherever he went, refusing to return to such an unjust superior. Lu Lingfeng, utterly disheartened, ordered him to put him down. Suddenly, Chicken Fed appeared, loudly demanding the daily chickens Lu Lingfeng had promised, complaining he was famished for days.
Guo Zhuang, annoyed by Chicken Fed's lack of sensitivity towards the injured Lu Lingfeng, threatened him. But upon learning that Chicken Fed possessed healing skills, Guo Zhuang immediately apologized and promised to fetch him a chicken. Lu Lingfeng, however, was despondent and expressed a desire to die, refusing any medical treatment.
Chicken Fed vehemently urged him to reconsider, arguing that his current predicament was a clear setup, and to seek revenge, he needed to heal and survive, otherwise, his grievances would be buried with him. Stirred by the thought of revenge, Lu Lingfeng finally agreed to receive treatment. Meanwhile, Pei Jian visited Pei Xijun, who was found sketching a portrait of Lu Lingfeng.
She pleaded with her father to approve her marriage to Lu Lingfeng as a way to repay his life-saving kindness, dreaming of their union becoming a romantic legend in Chang'an. Pei Jian, however, delivered a crushing blow, revealing that Lu Lingfeng had been stripped of his official position, had his lands confiscated, and was expelled from Chang'an.
He pointed out that Lu Lingfeng's downfall was a direct consequence of Pei Xijun inviting him to drink and causing him to violate curfew. He grimly suggested that Lu Lingfeng would likely never want to see her again, and that she would not be able to see him even if she wished. Pei Jian decreed that Pei Xijun was to remain confined to her room, studying, playing music, and painting, while he would arrange a suitable marriage for her later.
He also ordered all back windows of her room to be nailed shut and guards to be posted. Recognizing Xue Huan's unwavering loyalty to Pei Xijun and his basic martial skills, Pei Jian assigned him to be her dedicated protector, instead of punishing him for aiding her escape.
